ABSTRACT
Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica that live in the intestine have an inherent interaction with the bacterial flora which is located there and with the mucosal cells of the villus wall. Phagocytosis and specifically erythrophagocytosis has been reported to be closely correlated with the virulence or pathogenicity of the strain of ameba as measured by the ability of the trophozoites to produce abscesses in animals following intrahepatic injection, or to disrupt monolayers of tissue cultured cells. Entamoeba histolytica is an efficient phagocyte of bacteria as well as of red blood cells. The amebas have an assortment of catabolic enzymes to break down ingested materials. A number of amebal proteins have been implicated in the mechanism of adherence and phagocytosisl.
